IllustrationNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
1997 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Ranger years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Ford Ranger are substantially higher than the model-year median of 144.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Ranger years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
525–50K
2250–75K
2075–100K
36100–150K
21150K+
110 reports with mileage · 301 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Tires. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 55 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
40 crash reports8 fire reports30 injury reports
What owners actually said
411 reportsALL FOUR TIRES HAVE CLEAR SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION AT ONLY 20,000 MILES. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A LINE OF SMALL CRACKS IN THE RUBBER ALL THE WAY AROUND THE SIDE OF THE TIRES ABOUT 1/2 INCH INSIDE THE TREAD, ALOS THERE ARE CRACKS AT THE BASE OF EACH BLOCK OF TREAD, SEVERAL OF THESE ARE DEEP ENOUGH THAT YOU CAN PEEL BACK …
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ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE CLEAR SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION AT ONLY 20,000 MILES. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A LINE OF SMALL CRACKS IN THE RUBBER ALL THE WAY AROUND THE SIDE OF THE TIRES ABOUT 1/2 INCH INSIDE THE TREAD, ALOS THERE ARE CRACKS AT THE BASE OF EACH BLOCK OF TREAD, SEVERAL OF THESE ARE DEEP ENOUGH THAT YOU CAN PEEL BACK ABOUT 1/4 OF THE BLOCK.*JB
INTERIOR DOOR LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY REMAINS ILLUMINATED WHEN DOORS ARE SHUT, AND WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. THIS PROBLEM BECOMES MORE OF A SAFETY CONCERN WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. *AK *SLC
A ROCK WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN TIRE AND RIM , CAUSING ALLOY RIM TO CRACK. DEALER / MSNUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. RIM AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
CARRIER THAT HOLDS SPARE TIRE RUBS AGANIST TIRE WHENEVER VEHICLE MOVES UP AND DOWN WHICH LEADS TO TIRE WEARING OUT. TIRE HAS NEVER BEEN USED BEFORE. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK
HAD A RIGHT FRONT TIRE GO FLAT. WITH THE TIRE FLAT, THE VEHICLE JACK WOULD NOT FIT UNDER THE SHOCK ABSORBER AS THE OWNERS MANUAL DESCRIBES PROPER JACKING OF THE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO SAID TO JUST MOVE THE JACK TO A NEARBY LOCATION. I DID THIS BUT WAS VERY UNEASY DOING SO AS IT DIDN'T SEEM ESPECIALLY S…
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HAD A RIGHT FRONT TIRE GO FLAT. WITH THE TIRE FLAT, THE VEHICLE JACK WOULD NOT FIT UNDER THE SHOCK ABSORBER AS THE OWNERS MANUAL DESCRIBES PROPER JACKING OF THE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO SAID TO JUST MOVE THE JACK TO A NEARBY LOCATION. I DID THIS BUT WAS VERY UNEASY DOING SO AS IT DIDN'T SEEM ESPECIALLY SECURE AND I WAS WORRIED THE CAR COULD SLIP OFF THE JACK. ODD THAT WITH A FLAT TIRE, THE JACK IS TOO TALL TO PLACE IT WHERE THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS.*AK
INTERIOR DOME LIGHT WILL REMAIN ON FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. REPLACED THE INTERIOR LIGHT RELAY. THIS DID NOT WORK. THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN THE LIGHT OFF. THIS CAUSES SERVERE DANGERS AT NIGHT. *AK
PE00 020, CONSUMER WAS PULLING INSIDE OF A GAS STATION AND NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO LEFT. HE LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED THAT LEFT TIRE WAS FLAT. CONSUMER TOOK IT TO ANOTHER PLACE. TREAD WAS BEGINNING TO SEPARATE. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS#AT, P26575R15. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK DOT W29V1PK207. *SLC
POWER STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED, WAS MAKING A NOISE LIKE PUMP WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AIR CONDITIONER PUMP REPLACED. RIGHT WINDOW IS LOOSE WHILE GOING DOWN. TRANSMISSION SLIPS OCCASIONALLY WHILE TAKING OFF. THERE ARE LOOSE BOLTS UNDERNEATH SEATS. FOG LIGHT FAILED. CONSUMER STATES OIL FROM MASTER CYLINDER DAMAGED HOOD. …
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POWER STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED, WAS MAKING A NOISE LIKE PUMP WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AIR CONDITIONER PUMP REPLACED. RIGHT WINDOW IS LOOSE WHILE GOING DOWN. TRANSMISSION SLIPS OCCASIONALLY WHILE TAKING OFF. THERE ARE LOOSE BOLTS UNDERNEATH SEATS. FOG LIGHT FAILED. CONSUMER STATES OIL FROM MASTER CYLINDER DAMAGED HOOD. DOOR LOCK INSIDE DRIVER'S DOOR NEVER WORKED AND WAS REPLACED. *AK *SLC
THE DOME LIGHT WOULDN'T SHUT OFF AND CAUSED THE PINGING SOUND AS IF THE DOOR WAS AJAR. I CALLED CARRIAGE FORD (WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE). THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS NOT NECESSARILY IN THE DOME LIGHT BUT IN THE DOOR SWITCHES--THEY'VE HAD TO REPLACE A NUMBER OF THESE ALREADY. MY DAUGHTER, WHO LIVES IN TN, ALSO HAS A RANGER AND…
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THE DOME LIGHT WOULDN'T SHUT OFF AND CAUSED THE PINGING SOUND AS IF THE DOOR WAS AJAR. I CALLED CARRIAGE FORD (WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE). THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS NOT NECESSARILY IN THE DOME LIGHT BUT IN THE DOOR SWITCHES--THEY'VE HAD TO REPLACE A NUMBER OF THESE ALREADY. MY DAUGHTER, WHO LIVES IN TN, ALSO HAS A RANGER AND SHE'S HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I'VE NOTICED PEOPLE IN OTHER RANGERS DRIVING WITH THEIR DOME LIGHTS STUCK ON, TOO. I REASONED THIS MUST BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND CHECKED TO SEE HOW MUCH THE PARTS WERE TO REPLACE IT. I WAS TOLD IT WAS MINIMAL FOR THE PARTS--BUT THE LABOR WAS $160+. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AT FORD TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS WITH THESE PARTS. BECAUSE THIS IS PART OF THE SAFETY AND SECURITY FEATURES, (DOME LIGHT AS WELL AS REAR HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT) I HOPED THEY'D TAKE CARE OF IT. I WAS TOLD THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP ME. CAN YOU? WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE? THANKS, CHRISQUIRE@HOME.COM. *AK
Official recalls
109V399000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Oct 13, 2009
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2DP00005 · Front Seat Belt
Opened Oct 2, 2000 · Closed May 15, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
PE99045 · Steering Knuckle Separations
Opened Jul 6, 1999 · Closed Oct 29, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available